Our Trainers
Owners
Keith Wittenstein
(a.k.a. “Panda”, “Tyler Durden”, “The Mayor of CrossFitTown”)
Keith is Head Coach, Founder, President, and all that jazz. He just so happens to be the only Level 3 CrossFit Trainer in the New York area. Apparently that means he’s pretty badass. Keith has been personally invited to coach at certification courses by luminaries such as Mark Rippetoe, Mike Burgener, Jeff Martone, and Jeff Tucker. He’s a member of the CrossFit Level 1 Seminar Staff, which means he is an Official Source Of CrossFit Wisdom, and gets to wear a pretty snazzy red shirt.
Before founding CrossFit Virtuosity, Keith founded CrossFit NYC, the first New York CrossFit affiliate, and the eighteenth affiliate nationwide. He has worked at a number of esteemed fitness facilities including David Barton Gym, Crunch, Equinox, and an array of New York’s top yoga studios.
Here’s a big list of all Keith’s qualifications. Yep, it’s a long list!
- CrossFit Level 3 Trainer.
- CrossFit Speciality Seminars:
- Basic Barbells
- Gymnastics
- Kettlebells
- Nutrition
- Olympic Weightlifting
- Science of Exercise
- Running and Endurance
- Movement, Mobility and Maintenance
- Certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
- Certified by USA Weightlifting as a Sports Performance Coach.
- Registered yoga teacher.
- Purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under master Renzo Gracie, one of the most highly regarded practitioners and teachers of BJJ in the world. Keith co-taught the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club at Columbia University for four years.
- Ambassador for Lululemon Athletica.
- And last but not least, Keith holds a JD from Boston University. Just don’t ask him for legal advice… that was a long time ago!
Samantha Orme
(a.k.a. “Good Sam”)
Sam is Founder and Vice President, office manager, client services manager, human resources director, art director, event planner, tech support, and accountant, and hence has all the real responsibility around here. Pretty much everything she knows about coaching, she learned from Keith. She is a CrossFit Level 1, CrossFit Kettlebell, and CrossFit Endurance Trainer. Sam sits around all day just waiting for Rip, Burgener, or Tucker to call and ask her to coach a cert, but so far no such luck.
A couple years back Sam decided on a whim to ride a bicycle across the continental United States and against all odds emerged unscathed. Later, she ran a half marathon and found it far more challenging than the 4,000 mile bike ride. Sam will understand why you want to be an endurance athlete, and will only try to talk you into training smarter.
Training Staff
Elizabeth Wipff
(a.k.a. “Elastigirl”, “Bendy”)
Elizabeth is a coach, personal trainer, yoga teacher, and mobility specialist (that means she knows how to make you more stretchy!) She is a CrossFit Level 1 and CrossFit Movement and Mobility Trainer and has been teaching yoga in the NYC area since 1999.
Elizabeth’s athletic endeavors started early: she walked at 7 months and was roller skating at 3! As a kid she played soccer and studied dance, yoga, and therapeutic movement modalities.
In 2008, Elizabeth sought out CrossFit in an effort to heal back pain and increase fitness. She was a little trepidacious at first – yoga teachers don’t lift heavy weights and run around! A conversation with Coach Keith convinced her that there was nothing wrong with getting stronger and fitter! An thus the CrossFit obsession began…!
Elizabeth loves working with CrossFit newbies because she knows how overwhelming getting started can be. She holds a degree in Musical Theater Performance and will happily sing show tunes with you if it means you will lift heavier weight.
Kurt Tullar
(a.k.a. “Tube Top Tullar”, “TTT”, “Dairy Queen”)
Kurt is a coach and personal trainer who specializes in running, kettlebell and gymnastic movement. Kurt has spent half a lifetime running in circles, starting in high school track and cross country. After realizing it wasn’t making him any fitter, he tried CrossFit and has been hooked ever since. He loves helping new members overcome fears and learn the basics as well as expanding existing members understanding of movements in many fields.
In addition to his Level 1 and Coaches Prep Course, Kurt is has earned the following specialty certifications:
- Kettlebell
- Endurance
- Basic Barbell
- Gymnastics
- Mobility
- Olympic Weightlifting
Juan Blanco
(a.k.a. “Blanco”)
Blanco is a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, personal trainer and opera singer. Yes, CrossFitters sing opera!
As a child, Blanco was often called “husky” and always picked last in kickball. He battled with his weight, a struggle that would follow him into adulthood. Five years ago, weighing an impressive 280 pounds, Blanco found himself at a crossroads. In one direction was continued unhappiness and ill health. In the other was the hard road to fitness. After struggling through a series of false starts, including a diet named after a Miami beach and some questionable pharmaceutical remedies, he found CrossFit.
In the past two years, he has shed 100 pounds and is in the best shape of his life. If you want to see the kind of transformation that’s possible, ask to see his old photos. They’re pretty incredible, and as an added bonus you’ll get a great laugh from his Florida “frosted tips” hairstyle.
Blanco is truly happy to share his experience and help other people along the road to transformation!
Joey Swidler
(a.k.a. “Stix”)
Joey is a CrossFit and Steve’s Club coach. He is a CrossFit Level 1, CrossFit Running and Endurance, and CrossFit Nutrition Trainer. Joey does not come from an athletic background or family. He warmed the bench in basketball, was thrown in right field in baseball and was picked last for dodgeball. After college, Joey decided to put some muscle on his scrawny 145lb frame. After a year of so called ‘weight training,’ Joey had not seen any significant gains.
He found CrossFit in the summer of 2008 and never looked back. Since then, he has learned how beneficial functional movement is to our daily lives. After seeing how it changed his own lifestyle, he wanted to give back and began coaching. He loves competing, working with beginners, and truly understands the need for mobility as he’s not very bendy!
Justin Algera
(a.k.a. “Thor”)
Justin has been playing sports and lifting weights for the better part of his life. A one-time D-1 football player, he has been part of the CrossFit community since 2005, and knows his way around a barbell (to say the least!)
Justin’s goal as a trainer is to get you bigger, faster, and stronger than you were before you walked through the doors. He believes no matter what the program, there’s no substitute for blood, sweat, and tears when it comes to getting fit.
Justin’s primary focus is powerlifting: he is of the mind that it doesn’t get any better than a barbell and a rack. Mix in some running, jumping, throwing and a little bit of stretching and you have everything you need.
Justin’s qualifications include:
- CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
- CrossFit Speciality Seminars:
- Basic Barbells
- Football
- Gymnastics
- Movement, Mobility and Maintenance
- Olympic Weightlifting
- Powerlifting
- USAW Sports Performance Coach
Gregg Martino
(a.k.a. “Deja Vu”)
Gregg has been active in athletics and fitness his entire life, including standout careers in football, baseball, and wrestling. After 2nd and 4th place finishes in the Virginia state wrestling championships, Gregg took his talents to New York University. There he had a standout career, qualifying twice for the NCAA championships and as a senior was ranked No. 5 in the national rankings at the 174 pound weight class.
Having trained and been trained in a competitive environment for as long as he can remember, Gregg understands how to get you moving your body in an athletic manner. He currently holds a Crossfit Level 1 certification, a Crossfit Kettlebell certification and (fingers crossed) a B.S in Sports Management by the end of May.
Matthew Bernstein
(a.k.a. “Chazz Michael Michaels”, “Sex On Ice”)
Matt realized he had a natural aptitude for teaching while still a
teenager, helping fellow students learn to climb at his high school’s
rock climbing facility.
Seeking to combine his educational talents with his love of the
outdoors, Matt attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated with a BS in Kinesiology: Outdoor Education. He then moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where he served the community as both a professional ski patrolman and career firefighter. Working in two careers where the unknown and the unknowable are an everyday occurrence, he developed a deep appreciation for why CrossFit is such an effective and life-changing program. Matt has a deep passion for nutrition and its importance in every athletes life.
Matt is a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, CrossFit Kids Trainer, CrossFit
Movement and Mobility Trainer, CrossFit Gymnastics Coach, CrossFit
Olympic Lifting Coach has attended the Coaches Prep Course and is a
member of the Nike Trainers Network.
